진제의 {十八空論}에 나타난 공성의 분류의 특징

Abstract

In this paper, my aim is to deal with meaning and significance of the concept of Emptiness in the works of Yogācāra Buddhism, particularly in Paramārtha (CE. 499-569)’s Treatise on Eighteen kinds of Emptiness (十八空論). Among the Yogācāra works, there are many texts, such as SNS (VIII.29-31) etc., which discuss the meaning of the Emptiness by giving different subdivision and categorization for this concept. In this occasion I like to mention particularly two texts, MAVBh and MAVT, respectively attributed to Vasubandhu and Sthiramati, because of their intimate relationship with Treatise on Eighteen kinds of Emptiness of Paramārtha. By comparing the explanations given in these two texts with Paramārtha, the meaning and significance of his interpretation can be extracted on a solid basis. I like to summarize two important points of Paramārtha’s discussion of the Emptiness as follows: (1) In his interpretation of some subdivision of the Emptiness, he use the words of Three Nature (trisvabhāva), and in this sense he demonstrate himself to be the true follower of traditional Yogācāra. (2) His interpretation deviates from the so-called orthodox Yogācāra in case of the ‘Emptiness of its own Nature (svabhāva-śūnyatā, 性空)’. He wants to stress on the more positive aspect of that concept, and interprets it as ‘Buddha Nature (buddhadhātu, 佛性)’. In this context, it is highly interesting to see the parallel passage of MAVT 55,19-56,6, which mentions another interpretation that the tathāgatagarbha idea is meant for that Emptiness. This shows clearly that in Paramārtha’s period some Indian Yogācāras must have felt the necessity to subsume the tathāgatagarbha idea under the traditional Yogācāra concept of the Suchness (tathatā).